Apple hit a record high market value above $700 billion. Two years ago it stole the crown as the world’s most valuable company. The recent acceleration means that Apple has increased by the equivalent of the next 15 names on that list ranked by market cap. Investors must be asking whether history will repeat itself.

Oil is getting a yearend squeeze as inventories fall and geopolitical risks seem to be rising. War in South Sudan, a terror attack in Russia and labor trouble in Libya are giving the bulls a little ride.

As we come to the end of 2013, it’s a good time to reflect on some of the biggest resources stories of the year. One that immediately comes to mind is the U.S. energy resurgence and its tremendous effect on oil and gas.

India's search for hydrocarbons to fuel its economy has managed rather neat diplomatic trick of annoying Washington, delighting Tehran and intriguing Baghdad, and leaving the Indian Treasury fretting about how to pay for its oil imports.